Apparatus for lifting heavy objects

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for use in lifting heavy objects, such as concrete slabs, beams, columns, and the like, wherein a lift rod is inserted into a plastic sleeve, the lift rod being intersected by a lock rod, which is also disposed through a plastic sleeve, and which passes through an opening through the lift rod to lock the same in place within the object. The plastic sleeves are integral and are cast or molded within the object to be lifted. The sleeves may be made of materials other than plastic, such as metal or paperboard.

1 Feb.4, 1975 1 APPARATUS FOR LIFTING HEAVY 2/1935McIntosh........................ 403/319 X OBJECTS [76] Inventor:

Alvin B. Oldenettel, 3500 Red Bluff FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS Rd.,Apt. 6], Pasadena, Tex. 77503 1,174,227 12/1969 GreatBritain....................... 294/89 [22] ed Jan 23 19 3 7,749 3/1909Great Britain....,................. 238/367 Appl. No.: 326,090 PrimaryExaminer-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Carl B. Fox, Jr.

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 150,008,June 4, 1971, abandoned.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for use in lifting heavy objects, such asconcrete slabs, beams, columns, and the like, wherein a lift rod isinserted into a plastic sleeve, the lift rod being intersected by a lockrod, which is also disposed through a plastic sleeve, and which passesthrough an opening through the lift rod to lock the same in place withinthe object. The plastic sleeves are integral and References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS are cast or molded within the object to be lifted. Thesleeves may be made of materials other than plastic, such as metal orpaperboard.

238/367 Aisenstock.......................... 238/367 7 Claims, 1 DrawingFigure 542,474 1,224,426 5/1917 Steele 1,609,787 12/1926 PATENTED FEB 4I975 1 APPARATUS FOR LIFTING HEAVY OBJECTS REFERENCE TO EARLIER FILEDAPPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of applicantsapplication Ser. No. 150,008, filed June 4, 1971, now abandoned of thesame title.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The solution of the problem of lifting heavyobjects, such as precast concrete slabs, columns, and beams has neverbeen successfully solved. Such objects, which must be lifted after themaking thereof, have been provided with various types of liftingaccessories, none of which has been entirely successful.

According to the invention, the objects are provided with liftingdevices which are not only entirely successful in use, but which areinsertable for use and removable after use, and which may be reused forthe lifting of other such objects.

In summary, the invention provides an imbedded plastic structure havingone tubular passage directed straight into the object, and a secondtubular passage at an angle directed from one side of the first tubularpassage to intersect the same. A lifting rod is inserted into the firsttubular passage, and a locking rod is inserted into the second tubularpassage to pass through an angular opening through the lifting rod. Thelocking rod locks the lifting rod in place so that it may be used forthe lifting of the object and for the positioning of the object in anultimate structure.

After use, first the locking rod and then the lifting rod are removed,leaving the plastic structure within the object, and the lifting rod andlocking rod may be reused for use in lifting another object. The plasticstructure is non-protruding from the object and may be left in place asis, or may be filled in order to smooth off the surface of the objectafter use of the lifting apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof,reference during the description being made to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single drawing FIGURE is a crosssectional view taken at the plane of the axes of the plastic sleeves ofa preferred embodiment of apparatus according to the invention.

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing indetail, a molded plastic insert structure or element is molded or castwithin the concrete structure 11. Plastic insert element 10 includes atubular sleeve portion 12 of circular cross sections which isintercepted angularly near its lower end by a tubular sleeve portion 13,also of circular cross sections. The two sleeves l2, 13 are integral,and have around their upper ends the protruding flanges l4, 15,respectively. The axis of tubular sleeve 13 intercepts the axis oftubular sleeve 12, and both are straight, so that rods may be insertedeasily into the passages formed by the sleeves. Non-circular sleeves,e.g., oval, rectilinear, triangular, or other shapes of sleeves may beused.

In order that the tubular sleeve structure of element 10 may bereinforced in strength within the concrete object, one or morereinforcing rods 17 within the concrete object may be positioned aboutthe plastic insert 10 so that the concrete structure around the insertelement 10 will be reinforced and be of sufficient strength for thelifting of the object.

The insert element may be made of any suitable plastic material, such asthe polyethylene plastics. the polystyrene plastics, Bakelite, or anyother plastic or composition of sufficient rigidity to maintain theshape of the element, or of a metalsuch as aluminium, galvanized iron,or the like, or of paperboards or fiberboard or like composition. Anyother suitable material may be used. Reinforcing or filler material maybe used. Reinforcing rod or web formations may be included as desired,extending between the sleeves l2, 13.

In order that the plastic insert element 10 will remain in properposition during casting or molding of the concrete object 11, theflanges l4, 15 may be nailed or otherwise secured to forms for theconcrete object. In this way, the plastic element is firmly held inplace during the pouring and setting of the concrete, so that theplastic element will be properly positioned after setting of theconcrete.

The lifting rod 20 is freely yet closely insertable within plasticsleeve 12. One or the other of the crossed angular bores or openings 21,21a, of circular cross section, is readily positioned to be in thedirection of angular tubular sleeve formation 13 by lining up one sideof the eye 23 of lifting rod 20. After the lifting rod 20 is in place,the locking rod 24 is inserted into plastic sleeve 13 and passed throughopening 21 or 21a of the lifting rod, depending upon which direction thelifting rod is turned. The locking rod 24 has at its upper end an eye 27which is used for insertion and removal of the rod.

Lifting rod 20 has a flange formation 31 around its upper end beneaththe eye 23, which is concentric with the rod. Rod 24 has a circularflange 32 around its upper end beneath the eye 27. Springbiased balldetent 35 is urged into sleeve recess 36 by spring 37, and insures thatrod 24 will not accidentally be dislodged, should the cast object beturned over or for other reason. This improves the safety of theapparatus. The flanges 31, 32 may be omitted, but they have some util-'ity in that they indicate when the respective rods 20, 24 have beenfully inserted into the plastic sleeves. After the two rods have beeninserted as described, rod 20 may be engaged by eye 23, and the concreteobject lifted and moved to its ultimate structural position. Thereafter,locking rod 24 may be removed, followed by removal of the lifting rod20, by grasping of the respective eyes 27 and 23, so that both rods areremovable for reuse or for reinsertion for lifting of the object at alater time.

With the rods removed, the outer surface of concrete object 11 is flatand smooth and has no projections resulting from the lifting apparatusherein described. The plastic sleeves l2 and 13 may be left open or maybe filled with concrete or other material if desired in order toeliminate the openings from the side of the concrete object.

The cost of the lifting apparatus herein provided is very economical.The plastic insert is left in place within the concrete object and doesnot materially affect its ultimate strength and use, while the liftingand locking rods are removed for further use. The cost of the plasticinserts is relatively low so that their use results in only minoradditional cost, yet their use affords the utmost in convenience andreliability lifting and handling heavy concrete objects.

The sleeve structures and rods may be arcuately curved, instead of beingstraight. For example, the locking rod may be curved and be insertedinto a similarly curved sleeve or passage, to intersect the lifting rodand its sleeve perpendicularly or at any selected angle. The lifting rodmay also be curved.

While a preferred embodiment of the apparatus has been shown in thedrawing and described, many modifications thereof may be made by personsskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention,and it is intended to protect by Letters Patent all forms of theinvention falling within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in lifting objects of the type which are poured andset, comprising body means having first and second passages and designedfor imbedding in an object which is poured and set, said second passageintersecting said first passage intermediate the length of said firstpassage, lift rod means insertable into said first passage and having apair of crossed angular bores therethrough, each selectively alignablewith said second passage and having connection means at its outer end,lock rod means having connection means at its outer end and being freelyinsertable into said second passage and into one of said crossed angularbores of said lift rod means to prevent removal of said lift rod meansfrom said first passage, cooperating latch means on said lock rod meansand in said second passage for positively retaining said lock rod meansin said second passage whereby said lock rod means will not fall out ofsaid second passage even though said object is rotated or inverted andwhereby when said body means is imbedded within said object poured andset therearound with the rod-receiving ends of said first and secondpassages open exterior of the object said cooperating latch meanscomprising a spring'biased ball detent means disposed in a cavity insaid lock rod means and a recess disposed in the wall of said secondpassage for receiving said ball detent means and said rods are insertedand said lock rod means is latched in place as described, said liftingrod may be employed in lifting the object.

2. The combination of claim 1, said connection means at the outer end ofsaid lift rod means comprising an eye formation alignable with saidsecond passage to indicate when one or the other of said crossed angularbores is aligned with said second passage in position to receive saidlock bar means therethrough.

3. The combination of claim 1, said body means being formed of plastic.

4. The combination of claim 3, said body means being in the form ofintersecting sleeves forming said first and second passages therewithin.

5. The combination of claim 4, said body means having outwardlyextending means around said sleeves for use in connecting said bodymeans to a wall of a form within which said object is poured and set.

6. The combination of claim 5, said connection means at the outer endsof said lift rod means and lock rod means comprising eye formations,said apparatus including flange means around said lift and lock rodsadjacent said eye formations adapted to abut the object when said rodsare fully inserted into the respective sleeves.

7. The combination of claim 6, said connection means at the outer end ofsaid lift rod means being alignable with said second passage to indicatewhen one or the other of said crossed angular bores is aligned with saidsecond passage in position to receive said lock bar means therethrough.

1. Apparatus for use in lifting objects of the type which are poured andset, comprising body means having first and second passages and designedfor imbedding in an object which is poured and set, said second passageintersecting said first passage intermediate the length of said firstpassage, lift rod means insertable into said first passage and having apair of crossed angular bores therethrough, each selectively alignablewith said second passage and having connection means at its outer end,lock rod means having connection means at its outer end and being freelyinsertable into said second passage and into one of said crossed angularbores of said lift rod means to prevent removal of said lift rod meansfrom said first passage, cooperating latch means on said lock rod meansand in said second passage for positively retaining said lock rod meansin said second passage whereby said lock rod means will not fall out ofsaid second passage even though said object is rotated or inverted andwhereby when said body means is imbedded within said object poured andset therearound with the rod-receiving ends of said first and secondpassages open exterior of the object said cooperating latch meanscomprising a spring-biased ball detent means disposed in a cavity insaid lock rod means and a recess disposed in the wall of said secondpassage for receiving said ball detent means and said rods are insertedand said lock rod means is latched in place as described, said liftingrod may be employed in lifting the object.
 2. The combination of claim1, said connection means at the outer end of said lift rod meanscomprising an eye formation alignable with said second passage toindicate when one or the other of said crossed angular bores is alignedwith said second passage in position to receive said lock bar meanstherethrough.
 3. The combination of claim 1, said body means beingformed of plastic.
 4. The combination of claim 3, said body means beingin the form of intersecting sleeves forming said first and secondpassages therewithin.
 5. The combination of claim 4, said body meanshaving outwardly extending means around said sleeves for use inconnecting said body means to a wall of a form within which said objectis poured and set.
 6. The combination of claim 5, said connection meansat the outer ends of said lift rod means and lock rod means comprisingeye formations, said apparatus including flange means around said liftand lock rods adjacent said eye formations adapted to abut the objectwhen said rods are fully inserted into the respective sleeves.
 7. Thecombination of claim 6, said connection means at the outer end of saidlift rod means being alignable with said second passage to indicate whenone or the other of said crossed angular bores is aligned with saidsecond passage in position to receive said lock bar means therethrough.